Reducing-valve.



N0. 686,79I. Patented Nov. l9, I9Dl. J. WESTLEY.

REDUCING VALVE.

v (Application filed July 2, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet No.686,791. Patented Nov. 19, I901. .1. WESTLEY.

'manucme VALVE.

(Application filed. July 2, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Shaats-Sheei 2.

UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES VVESTLEY, OF LEVENSHULME, ENGLAND.

REDUCING-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 686,791, datedNovember 19, 1901.

Application filed July 2, 1901. Serial No. 66,886. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WESTLEY, brassfounder, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 10 South View, Belvoir avenue,Levenshulme, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented acertain new and useful Improved Reducing- Valve, (for which I have madeapplication in Great Britain, No. 4,349, dated March 1, 1901,) of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved reducing-valve for deliveringsteam and other fluids at a reduced pressure, as is well understood.

The accompanying drawings, to which I will refer, clearly illustrate myinvention.

Figure 1 is an outside elevation of my improved reducingvalve; Fig. 2,asectional elevation; Fig. 3, a plan. Fig. 4 is a cross-section; Fig. 5,an end View, and Figs. 6 and 7 detail views.

In constructinga reducing-valve in accordance with my invention Iprovide a suitable valve box or chamber a with a steam-inlet b andsteam-outlet e, which outlet is governed by an equilibrium-valve d d,provided with suitable valve-seatings e e. In the usual type ofreducing-valve the equilibrium-valves are carried on a common rigidspindle.

Owing to the unequal expansion of the metals forming the valve-box andvalves when subjected to the hot steam or fluids itis found in practicethat the valves are not steamtight, thus permitting the passage of steamwhen such ought to be cut off. An essential feature of my invention isthe means I adopt to obviate this, which I do by making the valve-stemelastic or extensible, so that the pressure of steam will tend to extendthe -valves apart and thrust them upon their seat- 5 fand jaw g, as willbe seen from an inspection of Fig. 2. V

The valves cl (1 are preferably formed with ball-seatings and areconnected together by means of an eccentric i, which works in the slotsformed in the divided valve-stem, the rotation of the eccentric raisingor lowering the valves (Z d, as required. To render the valve-stemslightly extensible, a clearance is provided for the eccentric at thetop of the slot in the spindle-half g and at the bottom of thespindle-half f. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the valves 01 d are closed.On the expansion of the metal the valve 01 shown at the top can risewith the expanding metal, owing to the clearance provided at the bottomof the slot h in the stem f. If the valves d Were rigidly connectedtogether, the expansion of the valve-box a would cause leakage at thelower valve. By means of the clearance in the slot 71. in the stem-halfg the lower valve cl can follow up the expanded metal and is thrustfluid-tight upon its seat by the incoming pressure of'steam or otherfluid.

One end of the eccentric-pin 2' is provided with a bearing in thevalve-box a, the other end protruding through a packed gland j, formedin the box, and which protruding end is squared and provided with alever is, carrying an adjustable load I. p

The cover m of the valve-box a is formed with a steam-chamber n,communicating with the steam-space behind the valves 01 by means of a port0. Screwed to the steam-chamber 'n, is a cylinderp, containing a pistong, which works fluid-tight in the cylinder by means of a flexiblepacking-ring r, jammed to the end of the cylinder p by a nut 1", asshown in the enlarged view, Fig. 7. Steam-pressure escaping between thecylinder and the piston and entering the cavity 8 tends to thrust theflexible ringr against the piston, and so render it fluid-tight. Afinger 25 upon the loaded lever is bears against the piston q. The loadZis adjusted upon the lever 75 to rotate the eccentric z', and so openthe valves d cl.

As shown in Fig. l, the valves are open, and by adjusting the load invarying positions upon the lever any required reduced pressure of steamor other fluid can be obtained, the steam passing through ports 0 c tothe delivery-outlet c. The cylinder 19 can be provided with apressure-gage u, if desired, to ascertain the reduced pressure to anicety, or where such gage is not required this end of the cylinder pcan be plugged up. When the pressure of steam behind the valves 61 dbegins to exceed requirements, the loaded lever 7c is overcome by thepressure acting upon the piston g, which is thrust out of the cylinderp, and thus acts upon the lever is to rotate the eccentric i and closethe valves d d.

If desired, the valve-box a may be provided with more than onesteam-outlet, as shown in the dotted lines c, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 6 I show a modified method of actuating the eccentric t by meansof toothed gearing. The piston q is provided with a rack 10, gearingwith a pinion :1; upon the eccentric i. The loaded lever is is pivotedat y and carries a toothed quadrant ,2, also gearing with the pinion a;on the eccentric i.

I declare that what I claim is- 1. In a reducing-valve for the indicatedpurpose a balanced valve having an-extensible valve-stem adapted tocompensate for unequal expansion of metals and so prevent leakage whenthe predetermined reduced pressure is attained and the valves areclosed, substantially as described.

2. In a reducing-valve the combination of the valves d (1 formed with adivided and extensible valve-stern, with the eccentric i and the meansfor operating the eccentric to open and close the valve substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES WESTLEY.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA ENTWISLE, ALFRED YATES.

